U.S. Visa Issuance Falls Through: "Deep Regret" vs. "Worst Relations"

[Anchor]

Representative Jung Chung-rae of the Democratic Party, who was scheduled to head to the United States tomorrow (October 11) for a parliamentary audit, has changed his destination to Europe due to a delay in the issuance of his U.S. visa. The Democratic Party expressed strong regret to the U.S. government, stating that it "restricts even an ally's parliamentary audit," while the People Power Party sharpened its criticism, arguing that the Lee Jae-myung administration is responsible for South Korea–U.S. relations deteriorating to their worst point.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon reports.

[Reporter]

Democratic Party Representative Jung Chung-rae, a member of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, was scheduled to depart for the United States tomorrow to conduct a parliamentary audit of institutions including the South Korean Embassy in the U.S.

Two days ago on October 8, he announced on social media that he "received a report that my U.S. visa remains 'under continuous review,'" adding, "Unable to wait any longer, I decided to go to Europe for the parliamentary audit."

Within the Democratic Party, Party Leader Kim Min-seok released a statement saying, "I express strong regret over the delay in issuing a visa to the former leader of the ruling party," and the party also issued an official commentary expressing regret to the U.S. government, stating that restricting even an ally's parliamentary audit "is not in line with the future-oriented value of the South Korea–U.S. alliance."

Representative Shin Jeong-hoon criticized on social media, saying, "If this is taking issue with his past record of anti-American protests," referring to Representative Jung's punishment for occupying the U.S. Embassy in South Korea in 1989, "it is unfair political retaliation."

On the other hand, the People Power Party sharpened its criticism, asserting that South Korea–U.S. relations are heading toward the worst situation and that the current administration is responsible.

Representative Na Kyung-won claimed, "This is a fatal collapse of the South Korea–U.S. alliance brought about by the Lee Jae-myung administration, and a warning to the Republic of Korea," while Representative Ahn Cheol-soo pointed out, "Even the former ruling party leader was rejected from entering the United States; is South Korea truly an ally of the U.S.?"

Regarding the conservative opposition raising concerns over a "rift in the South Korea–U.S. alliance," Representative Jung wrote on social media, "Hasty judgments and extreme assertions do not help the South Korea–U.S. alliance or the national interest."

Yesterday afternoon on October 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the reason behind the delay in Representative Jung's visa issuance, stating, "It is a matter that the U.S. side does not disclose," and added, "It is not appropriate to link an individual visa matter to South Korea–U.S. relations as a whole."

Video by Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing by Lee Seung-jin | Graphics by Kang Yoon-jung
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.